The Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday adjourned indefinitely the suit filed by an African Democratic Congress chieftain, Nafiu Bala Gombe, challenging the party’s leadership under former Senate President David Mark.
Justice Emeka Nwite adjourned the matter sine die after the plaintiff informed the court that an application had been submitted to the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court seeking the transfer of the case to another judge.
The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1819/2025, followed the emergence of David Mark and former Osun State Governor, Rauf Aregbesola, in the leadership structure of the ADC.
At the resumed hearing, counsel for the plaintiff, Luka Musa Haruna, told the court that the Supreme Court had on April 30 dismissed the interlocutory appeal filed by Mark against the proceedings.
According to him, the apex court also set aside the Court of Appeal’s order that stayed proceedings in the substantive suit.
Haruna, however, informed the court that the plaintiff had written a letter dated May 4, 2026, to the Chief Judge requesting that the case be reassigned to another judge.
He urged Justice Nwite to await the administrative decision of the Chief Judge before taking further action on the matter.
The request was opposed by lawyers representing the defendants, who accused the plaintiff of attempting to frustrate the accelerated hearing earlier ordered by the Court of Appeal and upheld by the Supreme Court.
Counsel for the first defendant, Realwan Okpanachi, argued that the defence had not been served with the application and described the move as an ambush.
Lawyers representing the other defendants also opposed the request, describing it as “forum shopping” and an attempt to delay proceedings.
In his ruling, Justice Nwite held that the court could not act on the letter without hearing all parties involved.
The judge added that since the letter was addressed to the Chief Judge, the trial court could not make any pronouncement on it.
He subsequently adjourned the matter indefinitely to allow parties file a Certified True Copy of the Supreme Court judgment, serve the defendants with the transfer request letter, and await directives from the Chief Judge.
Gombe is seeking an order restraining David Mark, Aregbesola and others from parading themselves as leaders of the ADC, arguing that their emergence violated the party’s constitution and provisions of the Electoral Act.
